Arizona Overtakes California in Automated Equipment Development

California Continues to Ban Self-Driving Farm Tech

Why is California, a hub for agriculture and technological development, still banning self-driving farm equipment? The state’s farmers are frustrated by yet another ruling citing safety concerns as the primary reason for upholding decades old automated equipment regulations.  Meanwhile, their neighbors in Arizona charge forward in their adoption of self-driving technology and aim to be a policy advocate for tech in agriculture.

How can these two states facing the exact same industry challenges take opposite stances on automated equipment and will their actions influence American agriculture overall? The discussion hinges on three main points; safety, fairness or market control and potential economic development.

Are Self-Driving Tractors Safe?

California has repeatedly pointed to a lack of safety data as grounds for maintaining self-driving tractor restrictions. They are not wrong. The majority of automated farm equipment has only been available to farmers for less than twenty years. And just 27% of farms in America are using automated or precision technology. Those involved with farm equipment accident investigations are not so sure that removing humans from the equation automatically decreases safety risks. While there have been incidents of tractors being unable to identify a pet or a child, risks don’t have to include humans. Sometimes a pre-programmed machine that encounters an unplanned obstacle can also have expensive consequences.

Yet, while farm equipment has struggled to secure testing permits, self- driving vehicles have already begun collecting data from driver less cars operating on California roads. The discrepancy between industries and lack of clear regulations for farmers has pushed innovation into Arizona where rules are far easier to navigate. Unlike California, Arizona is facilitating the data collection needed to deem self-driving farm equipment as safe or dangerous. Many states are turning to technological solutions for agricultural challenges and Arizona believes the future of farming lies in a successful partnership between long standing ag industries and innovative technology.

Will Automated Technology Rob the U.S. of Jobs?

Automated equipment is intended to offset growing labor shortages in farming and ranching. The average age among farmers is getting higher every year and the average farm income is having difficulties paying farm hand wages.  Add to the mix that there are fewer laborers looking for work and it appears as though, without the help of precision and automated technology, agriculture in the United States could be in trouble. However, estimates suggest that automated farm equipment could replace 88,000 jobs in California alone. 

Farmers believe the board may be sticking with the safety argument in an effort to maintain fairness for laborers who could lose their job to automated equipment. One insect burning machine, even manned, could do the work of sixty employees.  For farmers this is a clear win. Even with a large upfront investment they would still be saving money by paying fewer people, not to mention cutting costs for inputs and resources. But, by protecting only certain jobs farmers fear all agricultural jobs in California will be at risk.

Innovative Technology Brings Jobs to Arizona

Arizona sees the potential for job creation. Where California might see preserving farm laborer jobs as top priority, Arizona has favored progress. Automation could ultimately lower the cost of food by increasing crop yields as much as 15-20% and decreasing water usage by 30%. Fewer expenses on a farmer’s balance sheet is good news for consumers. And, as Arizona maintains, innovation is sure to create just as many jobs as it eliminates. The evidence is in the fact that many automated tech companies have based their operations in Arizona where they have more opportunity to test self-driving cars and equipment to collect the safety data they need to get their machines into more states. Being on the cutting edge is lucrative.

How Will California and Arizona Impact National Adoption of Automated Tech?

On one hand, California produces 40% of the nation’s vegetables and 70% of our fruit and nuts. If they maintain a slow pace of adopting automated tech that has the potential to greatly increase yields while slashing input costs the state could fall behind in food production. Will states like Arizona, North Dakota and Nebraska that have been quicker to incorporate technology be able to absorb some of this food production or will the U.S. increasingly rely on imports from Mexico? Unfortunately, it isn’t quite as feasible for North Dakota to produce tomatoes year round as it is for Mexico.

Despite the fact that farmers across the country seem increasingly willing to invest in automated technology, California’s regulations could impact availability of innovative options in all states. At the end of the day, California is still the bread basket. Manufacturers want to do business in California and will continue to design with the state’s strict rules and confusing regulations in mind. California farmers hope there is some middle ground to be found between perfect data collection and trial and error that will benefit not just their state, but farmers all of the United States.